Cost Engineer - Construction jobs in La Crosse, WI

Objective:      The Construction Manager Development Program is intended to provide recent  graduates of construction related programs (civil or mechanical engineering, building construction management, or similar degrees) knowledge and experience to effectively establish a career in the industry.  This program will lay the foundation for estimators, project managers, project supervisors and superintendents, and other similar mid-management roles critical for successfully managing and growing the company.  The program will also lay the foundation necessary for eventual attainment of higher level positions within the company as the employee’s career advances.

Timeline:       The program is intended to run for 3-4 years, depending on;   participant’s experiences prior to joining the program, participants progress within the program, and the participant’s desired career path.

Program Content:  The program is intended to not only expose the participant to all aspects of the business, but to develop specific knowledge and skills in becoming a highly valued contributor within the career path he/she has chosen.     

Year 1 -  Your first year will be spent primarily in the field as a member of a construction crew learning and performing laborer duties.  This will allow you to see how the work is performed in the field, the processes used, and the challenges faced in various construction projects.  You will periodically rotate into the office to get perspective on the logistical demands and the project management side of the business.  During these rotations you will be active in learning the business by helping estimators and project managers with pre or post bid activities and project layouts.  During the bidding season (January through March) you may spend 1-3 months in the office with pre bid, bidding, and project layout activities.

Year 2 - In your second year you will again spend time in the field, however your focus will start to shift toward seeing how the projects you assisted with in the bidding and planning process now start to shape up in the field.  You will continue to work as part of a construction crew through most of the summer, however at times you may rotate into the office on a week by week basis to see both sides of the project throughout the project lifecycle.  As you do this you will see your perspective change from learning how, to focusing more on the “why”.  You may also be developing an awareness to “best practices.”  During the later part of year 2, you should also have developed a vision of your preferred career track…Project Manager or that of a Project Supervisor.

Year 3 – Within your third year you will further be focused on your direction of preference (Estimating/Project Management or Field Supervision).  Your focus will determine how much time you spend in the field.  If your focus is in project management, you will begin preparing to function as a project coordinator, project supervisor, or project manager of a small job.  If you are intending to be a field supervisor you may be preparing to lead a small work crew.  For both career tracks, you will continue to rotate periodically from field to office and from office to field, depending on project status and your role within the project.

Year 4- In your fourth year you may be ready to run your own small job.  Running a small job, or a portion of a job, will take up an increasing amount of your time.  You will also assist other projects as necessary, either in estimating, project coordination, project management, or helping run jobsites or work crews.  Development will focus on leadership, teamwork, shoring up your weak areas, and preparing to run projects of increasing size.  Your learning will never be complete, however you will now have the tools to drive your career in the direction which best matches your goals and the expanding needs of the company.